Describing Location in a Distribution Transforming Data Describing Location in a Distribution Transforming converts the original observations from the original units of measurements to another scale. Transformations can affect the shape, center, and spread of a distribution. Effect of Adding (or Subracting) a Constant Adding the same number a (either positive, zero, or negative) to each observation: adds a to measures of center and location (mean, median, quartiles, percentiles), but Does not change the shape of the distribution or measures of spread (range, IQR, standard deviation). Example, p. 93 n Mean sx Min Q1 M Q3 Max IQR Range Guess(m) 44 16.02 7.14 8 11 15 17 40 6 32 Error (m) 3.02 -5 -2 2 4 27

Describing Location in a Distribution Transforming Data Describing Location in a Distribution Effect of Multiplying (or Dividing) by a Constant Multiplying (or dividing) each observation by the same number b (positive, negative, or zero): multiplies (divides) measures of center and location by b multiplies (divides) measures of spread by |b|, but does not change the shape of the distribution n Mean sx Min Q1 M Q3 Max IQR Range Error(ft) 44 9.91 23.43 -16.4 -6.56 6.56 13.12 88.56 19.68 104.96 Error (m) 3.02 7.14 -5 -2 2 4 27 6 32 Example, p. 95

Describing Location in a Distribution Density Curves In Chapter 1, we developed a kit of graphical and numerical tools for describing distributions. Now, we’ll add one more step to the strategy. Describing Location in a Distribution Exploring Quantitative Data Always plot your data: make a graph. Look for the overall pattern (shape, center, and spread) and for striking departures such as outliers. Calculate a numerical summary to briefly describe center and spread. 4. Sometimes the overall pattern of a large number of observations is so regular that we can describe it by a smooth curve.

Describing Location in a Distribution Density Curve Definition: A density curve is a curve that is always on or above the horizontal axis, and has area exactly 1 underneath it. A density curve describes the overall pattern of a distribution. The area under the curve and above any interval of values on the horizontal axis is the proportion of all observations that fall in that interval. Describing Location in a Distribution The overall pattern of this histogram of the scores of all 947 seventh-grade students in Gary, Indiana, on the vocabulary part of the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) can be described by a smooth curve drawn through the tops of the bars.

Describing Location in a Distribution Describing Density Curves Our measures of center and spread apply to density curves as well as to actual sets of observations. Describing Location in a Distribution Distinguishing the Median and Mean of a Density Curve The median of a density curve is the equal-areas point, the point that divides the area under the curve in half. The mean of a density curve is the balance point, at which the curve would balance if made of solid material. The median and the mean are the same for a symmetric density curve. They both lie at the center of the curve. The mean of a skewed curve is pulled away from the median in the direction of the long tail.